Bladder cancer refers to a  cancer, which arises from the epithelial lining or the urothelium of the urinary bladder. In the most common form of bladder cancer, the normal histology of the urothelium is recapitulated. It is called transitional cell carcinoma. Bladder cancer is a serious form of cancer that leads to many deaths too.

Treatment:
There are several modes of treatment for bladder cancer. They are:

1. Bladder cancer surgery: Surgeries are common for treating bladder cancer. 

2. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor or TURBT: This mode is used for determining the presence of bladder cancer and to find out if it has invaded the bladder wall muscle layer. This treatment mode is generally used in the early stages of bladder cancer.

3. Cystectomy: A cystectomy is undertaken when bladder cancer is very invasive and parts of the bladder or the whole of it has to be removed. There are two types of cystectomy.

Partial cystectomy is used when the cancer invades the bladder muscle layer in a small area. It can be removed without the whole bladder being taken out.
A Radical cystectomy is undertaken in case the cancer affects a large area and is present in multiple areas of the bladder. This surgery removes the bladder entirely and all its nearby lymph nodes.
4. Intravesical therapy: In intravesical therapy, a liquid drug is put directly into the bladder via a catheter instead of injecting it or consuming it orally. The cells lining the bladder are affected without causing any harm to other body parts. This therapy is usually used after TURBT in non-invasive cases of bladder cancer to prevent recurrence.

5. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is an effective treatment for bladder cancer. Chemotherapy may be used in two ways:

Intravesical chemotherapy, where the chemo drug is put directly into the bladder and is applicable only for early treatment stages.
Systematic chemotherapy, which involves the injection of chemo drugs into the vein or muscle and can also be administered in the form of pills. The drug reaches all parts of the body via the bloodstream and affects all cancer cells.
6. Radiation therapy: This treatment procedure for bladder cancer involves the use of high energy radiation for killing cancer cells. It is used in early phases of treatment and is the primary remedy for people who cannot have a surgery. It is combined with chemotherapy to make the radiation effective. The most common type of radiation therapy for treating bladder cancer is called external-beam radiation therapy where radiation occurs from an outside source.

Bladder cancer is a severe form of cancer. Proper and ideal treatment is required among the several treatment methods available.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Bladder Cancer and How It Can Be Treated

Finding a lump on either breast is the biggest cause of concern for any woman. This is one of the most common characteristic signs of breast cancer. Making any woman stressed out on discovering a lump. Breast cancer is increasingly becoming a commonly found cancer but, not all lumps are cancerous. Lumps can appear on the breast tissue as a side effect of contraceptives or during menstruation. These lumps typically disappear on their own. When a lump on the breasts does not reduce but instead begins to grow larger, one must immediately consult a doctor.

Non-cancerous lumps on the breast are known as fibroadenoma. These are typically seen in women below the age of 30 years. Fibroadenoma can be described as firm lumps with well-defined contours. These may be very small in size and may move under the skin. However, they can be easily identified through a mammography or an ultrasound. Fibroadenoma rarely turns cancerous and can be treated without surgery with homeopathy.

Homeopathy is a holistic form of medication that does not treat only the symptoms exhibited but treats the root cause of the issue. It may be safely prescribed to women of all ages. A homeopathic remedy is dependent on the symptoms exhibited along with the patient s overall physical, mental, and emotional health. Thus, two women with similar lumps in their breasts may be prescribed different medication if one has a type-A personality while the other has a type-B personality. For this reason, it is important to remember that while homeopathy has negligible side effects, self-medicating might not have the best results. If you have noticed a lump on your breasts, you must consult a qualified homeopathic doctor to prescribe a remedy for you.

Homeopathic remedies not only reduce the lumps but will also keep them from recurring. These may be prescribed on their own or in a combination of two or more medicines. Homeopathy can be taken along with allopathic medicine as well. When taking these medicines, one must be careful of the dosage and the timing. Homeopathic medication must always be taken at least an hour before or after eating anything else. When it comes to homeopathy, progress may be slow. Hence, it is important to take the full course of medication and not change the dosage or medicine without the doctor s advice.


Breast Lumps - How Your Symptoms Define Your Line Of Treatment?

Since the development of modern medicine, doctors and health care professionals have always tried to come up with minimally invasive procedures for both diagnostic purposes as well as surgery. Endoscopy was developed to see inside a human body without the need for large incisions or surgery.

What is Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a type of procedure wherein the doctor inserts a long thin tube into the body through an opening such as the mouth, anus or the urethra. Sometimes small incisions may be made on your body to insert the tube as well. The tube which is inserted within the body is fitted with a camera which allows the doctor to see what is wrong within your body, a specific section or organ. Doctors can even take images or videos of your organs which help them to determine a due course of action in your treatment. Endoscopy may also be used as a part of a laparoscopic operation to correct problems within the body, especially in cases wherein tissues have to be removed.

Types of endoscopy and its uses-
Although endoscopy could be used in any part of the body, there are certain areas where they are used more commonly than the others. Some of the types or endoscopies are mentioned below:

Colonoscopy   Used to examine your colon wherein the scope is inserted through your anus
Laparoscopy   This is one of the most common forms of diagnosis as well as surgery wherein the tube may be inserted through a small area in your abdomen or the pelvic area. This is not only used for imaging or diagnosis but is used in surgery as well.
Arthroscopy   Here, an incision is made on the joints of your body to check for problems
Cystoscopy   In this type, the tube is inserted through the urethral opening to check for problems in the urinary tract or the bladder. Another variation of this would be ureteroscopy.
Enteroscopy   This is an endoscopic examination of the intestines wherein the tube is inserted via the anus or the mouth.
Hysteroscopy   Here, examination of the uterus and the female reproductive organ is carried out wherein the endoscope is inserted into the vagina.
Bronchoscopy   It entails an examination of the lungs wherein the scope may be inserted through the nose or mouth to check the lungs
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy - This is used for the examination of the esophagus and the upper intestinal tract.
Risks and safety-
Endoscopy is a widely performed and very reliable procedure. In the hands of a skilled doctor, endoscopy will be able to determine the cause of the problem and also correct the issues if surgery is also performed along with it. However, like any procedure, it does carry certain risks although the chances are fairly low. Some of the risks are mentioned as follows  

Perforation or other injuries to your organs such as scraping or bruising
Fever due to the introduction of foreign materials
Persisting pain in the specific area wherein endoscopy was performed
Swelling of the area wherein the tube was inserted
Infections after the procedure
Bleeding at the site of the incision or entry of the tube
However, these cases are rare and only occur in a very small section of the cases. Although there is minimal pain associated with the procedure, the benefits far outweigh the risks and inconveniences.

8 Types Of Endoscopies & For What They Are Used For!

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that focuses on improving your overall well-being rather than just focusing on the symptoms of the disease. Being a complete natural based method, it has no side effects. Ayurvedic remedies for kidney stones emphasize on improving your lifestyle and diet to keep the energy balance in your body.

The causes of kidney stones range from factors, such as an imbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and spicy food. Less water consumption is also a major cause of kidney stones. These factors cause problems in the various doshas in the human body, leading to diseases. It leads to toxin formation in the body called ama.

These toxins trickle down to the urinary tract, causing crystals to form, thus leading to kidney stones.
Ayurvedic remedies consist of using diuretic herbs to dissolve the stones. Once the stones are dissolved, it is then recommended to use various cleansing techniques such as panchakarma which helps in strengthening the body. It is recommended to drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily, and urinate whenever the urge occurs.

If the bladder stores the urine for a long time, then it leads to kidney stones. You need to cut down on foods that contain salt in excess. Add more green vegetables to your diet as they provide the body with essential nutrients such as calcium.

A comprehensive list of the changes you should make are:
1. Avoid eating dry and heavy foods
2. Limit consumption of coffee, tea, pickle based foods and cold drinks
3. Restrict consumption of non-vegetarian foods such meat and poultry
4. Drink adequate water regularly
5. Consume parboiled rice, brown rice and ginger
6. Consume lots of fruit juices, soup and water
7. Increase water consumption during summer months
8. Don't suppress the urge to urinate

Some herbal remedies to control kidney stones are combining'mehendi'with water to form a decoction and then consuming it. Increase consumption of horse-gram as it decreases risk of kidney stones. Make sure you exercise on a regular basis as it improves your overall well-being and keeps you healthy.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Kidney Stones

Surgery is basically the most important treatment for majority of kidney cancer and without undergoing surgery, the chances of survival for the patient are very small. Surgery for kidney tumor is also beneficial for the people who has cancer in different other organs of the body. People also live longer with the help of the removal of the kidney which contains cancer thus even if cancer has spread beyond just the Kidneys, the doctor might suggest kidney surgery.

The removal of kidney tumor can also be used to prevent or reduce symptoms like abnormal bleeding or pain. Some of the tissues surrounding the kidney or the entire kidney might be removed depending on the location or other factors involving the tumor for cancer.

Risks or Side-effects of the Surgery
Surgery of any type might have some risks which can be short term like abnormal bleeding, blood clots which will eventually lead to infection. Majority of people does tend to have pain after undergoing the operation which usually could be benefited with the help of pain medicines. Some other possible risks are:

Some internal organs such as spleen, pancreas, large or small bowel or some blood vessels might be damaged after undergoing the operation.
Internal organs might observe some bulging near the area of surgery because of the issues with the healing of the wound which is known as incisional hernia
If the remaining kidney is unable to operate then there might be the risk of Kidney failure.
Is the chest cavity lets in unwanted air then there is a risk of Pneumothorax.
There is always a risk of urine leaking into the abdomen.
Advantages of Kidney Surgery
Transplantation surgery tends to have some benefits. Which minimises the need for dialysis and helps the patients enjoy life at its best which more freedom productivity and energy. Although majority of the patients before being first evaluated for surgery are on dialysis. But the patients who are undergoing end stage renal disease might be referred for surgery even ahead of dialysis.

A successful kidney surgery can provide you with more than just your health back. It can also provide you with an even better quality of life. There are several cases where the majority of patients return home and also good work and still lead a quality life after the transplantation therefore this treatment is preferable for several patients.

Surgery For Kidneys - Know The Benefits!

Menorrhagia refers to very heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding or periods in women. The bleeding is abnormal in nature, and if this continues for a long time, a hysterectomy surgery needs to be carried out to solve the problem.

Bleeding during the night time and passage of large blood clots during menstruation are other symptoms of Menorrhagia.

Causes:

The various possible causes of this kind of heavy menstrual bleeding are:

Hormonal imbalance, specifically of estrogen and progesterone is a common cause, which is more likely in adolescents and in women nearing menopause. Dysfunction in the ovaries also causes hormonal imbalance.

Non-cancerous tumors or fibroids may also be responsible for menorrhagia.

Women suffering from a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy are likely to experience heavy menstrual bleeding.

Using blood thinners may lead to menorrhagia.

An intrauterine device used for birth control measures can cause disturbance and may lead to heavy menstruation.

A condition known as adenomyosis, where the glands in the uterus lining get embedded in the walls of the uterus, also causes menorrhagia.

Pelvic inflammatory diseases, infection in the uterus or fallopian tubes are other common causes.

Heavy bleeding may occur in patients with ovarian or cervical cancer.

Diseases of the kidney, liver or thyroid diseases may also cause menorrhagia.

Diagnostic Tests:

Several tests and methods are carried out for the diagnosis of menorrhagia. They are:

A general physical examination.

Bleeding diary of the woman.

Blood tests to detect anemia or thyroid.

Pap Smear for the evaluation of cervical inflammation, infections or cancer

Ultrasound for evaluation of pelvic organs like uterus, ovaries and pelvis.

Hysteroscopy, where a camera is inserted into the uterus to observe the linings.

Sonohysterography, where a fluid gets instilled into the uterus along with an ultrasound test.

Treatment:

Certain drugs are used to treat menorrhagia. They include:

Iron supplements for treating anemia.

NSAIDS or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for treating and reducing blood loss.

Tranexamic acid is used for reducing menstrual bleeding.

Several oral contraceptives are used for regulation of the menstrual cycle. Oral progesterone corrects hormonal imbalance and reduces bleeding.

Surgical procedures for treatment of menorrhagia include:

Hysteroscopy, dilation and curettage, where uterus lining is scraped and evaluated.

Uterine artery embolization treats menorrhagia with fibroids.

Focused ultrasound ablation enables the killing of the fibroid tissue.

Myomectomy, endometrial ablation and endometrial resection are other surgical techniques.

Hysterectomy surgery is the penultimate solution, where the uterus, cervix or ovaries are completely removed.

Menorrhagia is characterized by abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding in women. This is quite unhealthy and proper measures must be taken for curing the heavy bleeding.

Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Periods) - A Common Indication For Hysterectomy

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